New wave British-American band, The Pretenders, will perform at this year’s Tanglewood concert series on July 16.
The Pretenders started with vocalist and guitarist, Chrissie Hynde. She moved from Akron, Ohio to London to begin her music career in 1973. She recorded demos with original bandmates including lead guitarist and keyboardist James Honeyman-Scott, bassist Pete Farndon, and drummer Martin Chambers. They released their first original record, Pretenders, in 1980. The album was a huge success and so they released their second album, Pretenders ll, in 1981.
The band, surrounded by the drugs in the London music scene, experienced the great loss of Honeyman-Scott due to an overdose in 1982. This happened just two days after Farndon was kicked out of the band because of his drug use.
With new members, they released 10 more albums, but their earlier music remained their most successful records. The Pretenders is currently made up of Hynde and Chambers, bassist Nick Wilkinson, lead guitarist James Walbourne, pedal steel guitarist Eric Heywood and keyboardist Carwyn Ellis. In 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This month, The Pretenders will perform for their fans on the Koussevitzky Music Shed stage.
Tanglewood is an iconic annual concert series located in the Berkshire hills in Western Massachusetts. It is the summer residence of the Boston Symphony Orchestra where they regularly give performances throughout the summer. To find more information on Tanglewood and to buy tickets for The Pretenders you can visit the website here.
Rochester band, The Chesterfield Kings just released two new singles, “Fly The Astral Plane ” and a cover of one “So Sad About Us” from one of their inspirations, The Who.
The Rochester based band has released 11 albums.
The band’s frontman, Andy Babiuk says he wrote the song “with a more psychedelic approach.” Despite their east coast beginnings, “Fly The Astral Plane” sounds like the soundtrack to a 60’s San Francisco summer. “The lyrics can have a double meaning depending on what you’re into. But if you close your eyes and listen, you’ll get there,” Babiuk said.
“So Sad About us” is more uplifting with its production than The Who’s version but still stays true to the band’s sound. The 7-inch cover is reminiscent of the hey-day of psychedelic rock.
The band formed in the late 70’s, are bringing back the classic rock sounds. Together the five piece band have released 11 albums and made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, as well as Late Night with Conan O’Brien. In 2009, they hiatus but recently came back to record and perform together.
Thus, next year, the band will join a lineup of other bands and artists from May 9-13 as part of Little Stevens Underground Garage Cruise. Rock fans will have the opportunity to sail from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas while listening to punk and classic rock bands. You can stream The Chesterfield King’s singles on any streaming service and find more information on their website.
The fourth edition of the Summer Gods Tour 2024 with Arizona, Yellowcard and the headliner Third Eye Blind took action at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on July 3.
The evening at Darien Lake opened up with pop rock and electropop band Arizona carrying out a sensational performance, warming up the crowd and they handed over to the 90’s rock band Yellowcard.
“Lights and Sounds” was the opening song from Yellowcard, greeted by fans. Punk rock music stirred up the crowd as they played “Cut Me, Mick”, “Southern Air”, “One Bedroom”, “Keeper”, “The Hurt Is Gone”, “Lift a Sail”. They ended the show with “Ocean Avenue”, set the audience to enjoy the head liner Third Eye Blind.
Third Eye Blind, fronted by Stephan Jenkins, showcasing their musical talent and fascinating stage performance. Opening with iconic song “Motorcycle Drive By”, the band instantly had the crowd singing along the lyrics. After they performed “Shipboard Cook”, the band took a short break to start an acoustic session.
Jenkins played an acoustic solo after the song “Slow motion”, and Brad, the drummer, played awesome drum solo at the end of the song “Jumper”. As they ended the show with “How’s It Going To Be”, the crowd erupted into cheers, marking the end of a memorable evening.
Summer Gods Tour with Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard and Arizona will keep taking these amazing bands across the country. More info can be found here.
Third Eye Blind Setlist: Motorcycle Drive By, Dust Storm, Never Let You Go, Narcolepsy, The Kids Are Coming(To Take You Down), Wolf Like Me/ Company of Strangers, Graduate, Wounded, Weightless / Faster / Water Landing, Shipboard Cook, The Background(Acoustic), Palm Reader(Acoustic), Slow Motion(Stephan Solo Acoustic), Jumper (Brad Drum Solo at end), Semi-Charmed Life Encore: How’s it Going to Be
Yellowcard Setlist: Lights and Sound, Cut Me, Mick, Only One, Southern Air, Transmission Home, One Bedroom, Lift a Sail, Childhood Eyes, Keeper, Be The Young, The Hurt Is Gone, Ocean Avenue.
Ned Evett, a pioneer in the world of fretless guitarists, makes his return to upstate New York for the first time in over two decades this August.
Evett kicks off a string of live performances with a live concert at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, on August 6. Immediately following, is his show at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery on August 7. Evett finishes off his New York stops with a live show at the Spirit Room in Rochester.
Over the last two decades, Ned Evett has cemented himself as an influential figure in the world of guitar players. In the early 1990s, Evett smashed his guitar after playing a show and handcrafted his own fretless guitar. Since then, Evett has mastered the style of fretless playing, which requires an immense understanding of the instrument’s sound and impeccable perfect pitch.
During his career, Evett has performed in over 30 countries with hundreds of touring artists, including Joe Satriani, Leon Russell, Kansas, Eric Johnson, George Thorogood, and John Scofield. Despite his extensive touring history, he has not made a return to upstate New York in over two decades. His name might be familiar to longtime guitar fans in the region, though. In 2003, Evett won the North American Rock Guitar Competition at the University of Buffalo. Since then, Evett has received massive critical acclaim. Described by Guitar Player magazine as “the world’s first fretless guitar rockstar” and dubbed “the king of the glass-necked guitar” by USA Today, Evett is the inventor of the glass-necked fretless guitar and the glass slide capo.
Evett will perform in a trio, with Rochester-based Steve Imburgia on drums and percussion and Brian Barr on bass for the New York shows. He will perform songs from his forthcoming record, Strange Kind of Freedom, which is set to release on November 8, as well as several fan favorites from his 12 prior solo releases.
Information for the New York shows are listed below.
Aug. 7 — Buffalo @ The Lounge at Revolution Gallery tickets: free doors: 5:30 p.m. show: 6 p.m. start address: 1419 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Aug. 8 — Rochester @ The Spirit Room doors: 7 p.m. show: 8:30-10:30 p.m. address: 139 State St., Rochester, NY 14614
8/2 Friday Syracuse NY Funky Town Comics & Vinyl 8/6 Tuesday Syracuse NY The Lounge at Revolution Gallery 8/7 Wednesday Buffalo NY Iron Works 8/8 Thursday Rochester NY The Spirit Room 11/8 Friday Okinawa Japan Kadena Festival 11/14 Thursday San Pedro CA Alvas Showroom 11/16 Saturday Mill Valley CA Sweetwater Saloon 11/23 Saturday Boise ID Sapphire Room
Any additional information and tickets are available on Ned Evett’s website linked here.
The city of Rensselaer, NY, has two separate concert series on tap this summer.
The first, the Rensselaer City Concert Series, began on June 17 and will last until July 29 at Riverfront Park. The second, the Summer Jam Concert Series, began on June 26 and will last until August 7 at the North End Firehouse on Washington Avenue. Each concert for both series is weekly from 6 pm to 8 pm. The full lineups for both events are listed below.
While the city hosts two separate series at the same time, each serves a different purpose and centers on different artists and organizations. The Rensselaer City Concert Series is a government-affiliated program hosted by the City of Rensselaer. All events for the Rennselaer City Concert Series are free and available for all ages.
A wide variety of performers make the lineup of the City Concert Series, encompassing all genres for all listeners. Performances range from rock outfits like Gone Grey and Pete & Friends to Donny Elvis, a nationally known Elvis impersonator making an appearance at both series, to intimate smooth jazz from Standard Edition.
However, the Summer Jam Concert series is hosted by Kiwanis, a charity that provides after-school programs to children and schools across the country. Summer Jam Concert Series promotes rock artists of all subgenres: classic rock, hard rock, pop rock, contemporary, and even a night of Celtic folk music. Each week, the artists performing at Summer Jam bring the audience back to the roots of rock and roll. Celebrate the summer with a throwback to the classic rock songs everyone knows and loves. The series is a free event enjoyed by the whole family.
The full lineup for the Summer Jam Concert Series
June 26: The Lost Art Band (classic rock)
No concert on July 3
July 10: Hands of Time (rock oldies)
July 17: Diva and the Dirty Boys (60s and 70s rock)
July 24: Kilashandra (contemporary and Celtic)
July 31: Donny Elvis
August 7: Bobbie VanDetta and the Split (pop, rock, and country)
The full lineup for the Riverfront Concert Series:
June 17: Pete & Friends
June 24: Gone Gray
July 1: Donny Elvis
July 8: Paul Slingerland & Friends
July 15: Standard Edition
July 22: Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts
July 29: Donny Elvis
For more information on both of the summer concert series, visit the City of Rensselaer’s website here.
Organizers for Buffalo’s Music is Art festival have announced the event’s relocation to the Outer Harbor. This move is the second time the festival has changed venues this year. The concert will take place on Saturday, September 21st.
The Music is Art festival began in 2003 in North Buffalo. Led by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac, the festival board has continually worked with volunteers and local organizations to hold the event. Since its start, Music is Art’s goal has been to “encourage people to find their musical voice [and] think about how music touches their lives.”
Previously, Buffalo Riverworks and the neighboring Riverfest Park had hosted the festival. However, in early Spring 2024, the festival organizers announced that the festival would return to North Buffalo. This move had the Buffalo AKG and Buffalo State University hosting. Despite initial enthusiasm for this move, issues quickly began to arise.
In an Instagram post, Takac announced “After months of planning, Music is Art Festival organizers and AKG staff have agreed that too many challenges stand in the way of presenting our annual music festival on the grounds of Buffalo’s AKG and Buffalo State University without compromising the energy and character of the event.”
As a result of these challenges, the Music is Art festival will move to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. The Outer Harbor hosts Buffalo’s newest concert venue Terminal B, as well as a large lakeside lawn to hold concerts. Despite the change of venue, the festival organizers will continue to work with the AKG and BSU to showcase local artists. With this change in location, festival organizers are “filled with excitement and anticipation for what this yearâs festival will bring.”
The Outer Harbor will host Music is Art on Saturday, September 21st from 11am-11pm. Across its 17 acres, the festival will host 26 concert stages with over 200 performers. The artist lineup has not yet been announced. In addition to musical performance, the festival will also feature visual artists, food trucks, local vendors, and more. These activities ensure MIA’s mission of being “a beacon of artistic expression and a truly inclusive cultural gathering in Buffalo showcasing the vibrant energy and diverse talents of the local and regional art and music scene” as per executive director Tracy Fletcher.
Admission for Music is Art is free for all guests. Additionally there will be both free and paid parking options, shuttle services, and bike accommodations. To learn more, visit the Music is Art website here.
This September, the town of Hudson, NY, will host the 2024 Basilica Soundscape Music Festival. From September 27-29, fans and attendees can see a wide variety of concerts, art installations, and high-tech performances from local and nationwide artists.
Founded in 2010 by Melissa Auf der Maur, Patrick Doyle, and Tony Stone, Basilica Hudson has been providing local artists, writers, and musicians alike with a historic space to showcase their work. Located in a reclaimed industrial factory from the 1880s, the original architecture included industrial windows, brick walls, terracotta ceiling tiles, and an intricate steel truss system. With thorough renovations, but still preserving the original features, it became the perfect scenic location to present these works. Since then, a wide variety of programs hosted through Basilica Soundscape include music festivals, live readings, and gallery presentations.
Through its programs, Basilica Hudson actively encourages and supports the creation, production, and presentation of independent arts and culture. One of its trademark festivals, Basilica SoundScape, features live concerts, conceptual sound performances, author readings, art installations, curated local vendors and artisans, on-site activities, and more, creating an immersive, innovative weekend of art, music, and culture.
Presented below are the full list of performers coming to Basilica Soundscape:
Friday, September 27
“Motherbeat” vinyl DJs Eris Drew & Octo Octa return to Basilica Soundscape for a night of bass-blasting house music. They’re bringing their powerful, custom LUV NRG sound system to the cavernous Main Hall for an all-night party, presented by the Bunker.
Nitemind returns with an electric and innovative light show to accompany the party.
Eris Drew and Octo Octa – Crack Magazine
Saturday, September 28
Noise legends Lightning Bolt bring their exciting sound from Providence, Rhode Island, to Hudson for a night of energetic rock and roll.
Lightning Bolt – Official photo
Post-rock band Still House Plants make their Basilica Soundscape debut. Join them on Saturday to hear some creative, innovative sounds.
Still House Plants – Pitchfork
An exciting combination of genres awaits as new rap combines forces with a nü-metal edge with the heavy style and flow of hardcore rapper E L U C I D.
E L U C I D – Pitchfork
Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Greg Mendez shares songs from his newest self-titled album on Saturday night.
Maria BC presents dark, ambient movements that accompany melancholy, soaring vocals with a haunting new song featured on the soundtrack for the new film “I Saw the TV Glow.”
Cassandra Jenkins, the unofficial songwriter laureate of Central Park Birders, will present songs from her upcoming album, My Light, My Destroyer, set to release on July 12.
Local band Babehoven brings the indie-rock sound to Basilica Soundscape. They will be presenting songs from their latest album, Water’s In You, released in April of this year.
Babehoven – Rolling Stone
Movement and music presented by Kinlaw, a composer, choreographer, and performer.
Open Head, one of the most exciting bands local to Kingston, NY, brings a night of post-punk fun to Basilica Soundscape.
Basilica Hudson’s signature Writers in the Rafters program makes a return to Basilica Soundscape, featuring live readings from local writers and poets alike.
Sunday, September 29
Although Sunday’s program is yet to be announced, Basilica Hudson promises a night of family-friendly fun for free!
For any festival, artist, or ticket information, visit the festival’s website.
Soul Coughing, one of the most unique and influential rock and roll bands of the last four decades, is returning to the stage fully formed for the first time in 25 years.
All four original members, Mike Doughty, Sebastian Steinberg, Mark degli Antoni and Yuval Gabay will be performing from coast to coast this September and October, capping the tour off with back-to-back nights in New York City.
NIELS VAN IPEREN/GETTY IMAGES
Each exclusive performance will feature songs from their El Oso,Irresistible Bliss and their genre-defining debut album Ruby Vroom which celebrates its 30th anniversary this fall.
The four members of Soul Coughing have said it again and again to audiences, fans, and journalists: We will not reunite. Stop asking. Well, you might want to pose that question one more time, because the tune has changed. This fall, all four original members will take the stage once more, with 17 dates across the country—bringing their glorious, off-kilter magic to a whole new audience.
Mike Doughty (vocals/guitar), Mark degli Antoni (keyboards/sampler), Sebastian Steinberg (bass), and Yuval Gabay (drums) formed Soul Coughing in 1992 after meeting at New York’s Knitting Factory, where Doughty worked the door. A truly eclectic collection of musicians, the guys merged drum & bass, trance, rock & roll and hip-hop to create a totally unique strain of music. As Doughty says: “Our music didn’t fit into the landscape then and it doesn’t now. We were super incorrect. We were messy. We were all over the place. There were moments in our career where we tried to be less different, and we always failed.” And thank God for that.
Over their eight-year history, the guys collected a motley crew of fans who gravitated to the deeply weird—yet danceable—energy of their discography, starting off with their 1994 debut, Ruby Vroom. They broke up in 2000, but Soul Coughing has lived on in the minds and hearts of their most ardent fans—and a new crop of listeners who may have heard standouts like “Super Bon Bon” on a video game soundtrack or “Circles” on a favorite TV show.
And the guys themselves are no slouches. Doughty has been releasing solo records at a steady clip since the band broke up and has penned two memoirs. Meanwhile, degli Antoni has thrown himself into the soundtrack world, scoring films by the likes of Wernor Herzog. He also collabed with Steinberg, who has played with everyone from Iron & Wine to Fiona Apple—notably on her critically acclaimed 2020 record Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Steinberg also linked up with Gabay on a drum and bass project called UV Ray and select recordings for Suzanne Vega. Gabay then moved to the U.K. and recorded with DJ Krust, ADF, and Roni Size Reprazent.
When they hit the 30th anniversary of Ruby Vroom, though, Doughty started looking backward. After playing the whole record on tour solo, he reached out to the band with a radical idea: a reunion tour where they’d play a best-of collection of tracks from Vroom, 1996’s Irresistible Bliss, and 1998’s El Oso. “The end was acrimonious, but I just thought I’d give it a shot,” he says. “So I just wrote an email to all three guys. It took a little convincing for some of them, but I was really gratified that everyone wanted to take part in that again—to see if we can be a great band again.”
To say the guys were shocked might be a bit of an understatement. But it was also a kind of much-needed salvation. “When he first reached out it was such a relief,” says Steinberg. “We all have our part to play in any dysfunctional relationship. But it was an immediate relief. I could just say, ‘Hey, man, we did something wonderful. And I’m sorry, too. That was cool.’” Gabay had a similar reaction: “I respect the music. I love what I did there. I love what the guys are doing—we were a good band.”
As for the setlist, that’s still in flux. Doughty lives in Memphis, degli Antoni in New York, Steinberg in L.A., and Gabay in Jerusalem, so they have yet to get together for rehearsals. Still, they’re all practicing—and will rehearse for a solid week leading up to the show. Doughty is singing three hours per day, Steinberg is getting back into the very muscular swing of Soul Coughing, as is Gabay—and degli Antoni? He’s unearthing his old sampler—which he bought decades ago with his student loan money—and sorting through everything from snippets of ‘60s songs to seagull calls.
“We’re just trying to pick the songs that bring us joy,” Doughty says. “We’re really trying to kind of revel in each other as musicians and that’s what the setlist is going to be based on. One thing that’s always been true about this band is every song is somebody’s favorite song.”
“Really one of the best conversations I’ve had in this band ever was Mike and I sitting down by the L.A. river for almost two hours and just going through the songs,” Steinberg adds. “I think there’s nothing I wouldn’t try to tackle, because it’s all so insane.” As for the clubs, they went back to venues that supported them back in the day. “Our agents did some archaeological work, finding people in the music business that would really care about this—and really, really be excited about it,” Doughty says.
As they head toward making history, all Soul Coughing knows for sure is that the band was something special—something never replicated. And this time around, it’s all about unity. “Music is a place of escapism, for people to go to a magical world,” Gabay says. “That’s what interests me. I want to bring people together. How can you bring a variety of people to the gig? Music brings people together—both the band and the audience.”
And as for how they promised to never get back together? “We just decided to let bygones be bygones. You know, everybody had issues,” Doughty says. “Our fans are going to be shocked, man. I can’t even believe how much they’re going to be shocked.”
Find tickets and information on the tour here. See below for a full list of dates.
The town of Long Lake has announced the 2024 lineup for its Summer Music by the Lake concerts. Concerts will take place at the Long Lake Town Beach 6-8pm each Friday until August 23rd. This year’s concerts will highlight yacht rock, alternative, and tributes to classic acts.
Long Lake is situated in the heart of the Adirondacks, two hours north of Albany. With pristine forests and waters, visitors have hailed the town as one of the most scenic in all of New York. At the center of Long Lake’s recreation is the town beach. In addition to swimming and boating, visitors can enjoy a host of music performances at the beach throughout the Summer Season.
Before the start of the Music by the Lake series, Long Lake Town Beach will host a special July 4th concert. The concert features NYC-based yacht rock outfit The Yacht Lobsters. Founded in 2022, the septet mixes the sounds of classic acts like Hall and Oates, with a jazz horn section, and funky rhythms to make endearingly retro songs. This concert comes as part of a day-long celebration, including barbeques, bake sales, and fireworks. The Yacht Lobsters will begin at 6:30pm on the beach stage.
The Friday Music by the Lake concerts will begin July 5th with a special open mic night. At the concert, local artists can sign up to perform sets. The open mic night will showcase a range of local artists and sounds sure to captivate beach-goers.
On July 12th, New Paltz’s Gratefully Yours will perform a set at the town beach. Keyboardist Alex Mazour founded the band in 2012 to recreate the Grateful Dead’s timeless classics. The group plays off the energy of their crowds, capturing the improvisational talent of the original band. Gratefully Yours puts their audiences at the center of performances, allowing them to submit dream setlists to play. With members from the Dark Star Orchestra and Trey Anastasio Band, Gratefully Yours is one of the premier Grateful Dead tributes around today.
July 19th will feature a set by the Jess Novak Band. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jess Novak formed the group with a host of Syracuse’s premier musicians to perform blues and soul-influenced rock. Novak performs over 150 shows each year, which have taken her everywhere from Burlington to Key West. On top of releasing 12 albums, Novak also started the F.I.R.E festival to highlight female musicians.
The Green River Tribute Band will perform on July 26th. NYC-native Rick Horvath has led Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute bands since he was 13 years old. CCR was a staple of 1960s and 70s rock, selling over 30 million records in their heyday. Green River pays tribute to this classic group with 90-minute sets, encompassing faithful covers of classic CCR tunes. Audiences can expect to hear CCR favorites like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising.”
Night School will kick off August, with an evening concert on the 2nd. The five-piece dance rock group hails from Tupper Lake in the heart of the Adirondacks. The band defies genre, playing danceable hits of all types from the past. Playing everything from the Beatles and Talking Heads, to Rick James, Night School is bound to keep audiences grooving throughout their whole set.
August 9th will feature a performance by the Altered Tones. The four-piece band consists of local artists from Long Lake and Tupper Lake united by a love of 90s music. Together, the Altered Tones pump out acoustic covers of classic rock and alternative for audiences to enjoy. Concert-goers are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and coolers to boost their enjoyment.
Booyah will perform an August 16th concert of their unique brand of funk. For over eight years, Booyah’s seven members have played unique funk-imbued takes on classic tracks. With funk versions of David Bowie, Talking Heads, and Rage Against the Machine songs, Booyah will keep their audiences dancing all night.
Big Martha will close out the Music by the Lake concert series with an August 23rd show. Hailing from Buffalo, Big Martha offers one of the most faithful Allman Brothers experiences. Together, the six-piece band crafts an energetic set from one of the greatest Southern rock catalogs in music history.
Long Lake Music by the Lake Schedule
7/4 – The Yacht Lobsters
7/5 – Open Mic Night
7/12 – Gratefully Yours
7/19 – Jess Novak Band
7/26 – Green River Tribute Band
8/2 – Night School
8/9 – The Altered Tones
8/16 – Booyah
8/23 – Big Martha
For more information, visit the Long lake town website here.
Hugely popular country-rock band, Hootie & The Blowfish touched down in Bethel on Thursday, June 27 during their “Summer Camp With Trucks” tour.
Bethel Woods Center For The Arts is a stone’s throw from the original site of the Woodstock music festival, and joining Hootie & The Blowfish is Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. Collective Soul is celebrating their 30th anniversary and did so by releasing their newest record, Here To Eternity.
As fans were still finding their seats, buying merchandise and beverages, McCain graced the stage. Joining McCain was Larry Chaney on lead guitar with Craig Shields on saxophone and keyboards. The trio had a short set yet prepped the crowd for the rock and roll later in the show. Throughout McCain’s set, he shared stories about his family and laughed with the audience in between songs. Some of his most popular songs like “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More,” were received well by the fans. The trio’s chemistry on stage was extremely noticeable while they were on stage.
All the bands were on a tight schedule so Collective Soul hopped quickly on stage. The band blasted into their first song, “Mother’s Love” off their brand new record. The crowd rose to their feet at the start of the set and did not sit until the end of the last song, “Run.” Collective Soul’s style of rock is different than Hootie & The Blowfish’s yet at the same time, complimented each other. It was great to see so many people have equal interest in Collective Soul and Hootie & The Blowfish. The band’s nine-song set was packed with some of their biggest hits. The crowd sang along to every one of the group’s songs.
Collective Soul is fronted by Ed Roland on lead vocals and acoustic guitar. Joining Ed is his brother Dean Roland and Jesse Triplett on guitars. Will Turpin was on bass and Johnny Rabb on drums.
Collective Soul has always been a great band and their stage presence is unmatched. All of their songs are catchy and their legion of fans brought their singing voice with them. As the band started a cover of AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, McCain ran on stage to help sing. This brought a loud cheer from the audience. “December,” off the band’s self-titled record was the second to last song played but was the fan favorite. The fans that sat down immediately stood up and took out their phones to record the tune.
With the sun now dipping behind the general admission lawn, the stage quickly was turned over. Hootie & The Blowfish’s road crew did a swift and efficient job at getting the gear all set and ready to go. Before anyone could get a new beer, 001: A SpaceOdyssey’s theme song was blasted into the set and the house lights dimmed.
Hootie & The Blowfish jumped into a cover of 54-40’s “I Go Blind” as the first song. Like Collective Soul, fans in the lower section remained on their feet for the entire 23-song set. The energy from the crowd was soaked up by the band as they had smiles on their face from the first note till the last.
The band is led by singer and guitarist Darius Rucker. Joining Rucker is Mark Bryan on lead guitar, Dean Felber on bass and Jim Sonefeld on drums. In addition to the quartet are touring musicians Gary Greene, Garry Murray and Lee Turner.
With the temperature dropping below the 60s, the cooler weather didn’t deter the band or fans. The rock-infused country style made fans feel right at home at the site of “peace and love.” Throughout the band’s set, they sprinkled in a ton of covers including “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, “Hey, Hey What Can I Do” by Led Zeppelin and “Solitude” by McCain. The latter even saw McCain, yet again, grace the stage to perform the song. The cheers for McCain were louder than the other two times. The band did a great job at adding their own twists to some of those classic covers and made some of the songs the memorable tunes of the evening.
The team that was mixing the band’s sound was at the top of their game. The band overall sounded great. No member was louder than the other, they were just perfect. Behind the band was a spectacular video screen with top-notch graphics of live video and different animations. It was amazing to see different animations of campfires and big trees displaying different color lights to the audience.
It’s difficult to not play the famous tune “Wagon Wheel” for Rucker and fans got their money’s worth when that song was played towards the back half of the set. Fans screamed at the top of their lungs and embraced their friends and partners. This tune has become a favorite among music lovers and it was a great song to hear live, it sent chills down the spines of fans across the amphitheater.
With the band in full command of the stage – and one shoeless Bryan – the band weaved in and out of covers and original material before the end of the set. The final song before the set was over was “Hold My Hand,” off of 1994’s Cracked Rear View and, like “Wagon Wheel,” people embraced each other as the band waved goodbye.
It wasn’t until the three-song encore started that more thunderous cheers were heard. “Go and Tell Him (Soup Song)” was the first song up to bat before a cover of Stone Temple Pilots’ “Interstate Love Song” was played. The STP song was one of the best songs and covers played that evening. Rucker’s vocals were on course with original singer, Scott Weiland and the rest of the band followed his lead.
Of course, “Only Wanna Be With You” was the very last song of the evening and while fans were slowly filing out of the crowd and into the cold night, there was not one negative word said. The crowd loved the entire show and it was all they could talk about as they left the amphitheater.
Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Summer Camp With Trucks” tour has two more dates left. On September 5, they will be in Long Island and on September 6 they will be in Syracuse. This is truly a show you do not want to miss, it’s spectacular in every sense of the word.
Edwin McCain setlist: Darwin’s Children, I Could Not Ask For More, Promise of You, I’ll Be
Collective Soul setlist: Mother’s Love, Bluer Than So Blue, Heavy, Shine, The World I Know, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (AC/DC cover), Where the River Flows, December, Run
Hootie & The Blowfish setlist: I Go Blind (54-40 cover), Wishing, I Will Wait, Time, Running From an Angel, For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield cover), Hannah Jane, Not Even the Trees, Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (William MacEwan cover), Desert Mountian Showdown, I Hope I Don’t Fall in Love With You (Tom Waits cover), Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Shop cover), Miss California, Hey, Hey What Can I Do (Led Zeppelin cover,) Solitude (Edwin McCain cover), Old Man & Me / Mo Money Mo Problems / Big Poppa, Let Her Cry, Losing My Religion (R.E.M cover), Alright, Hold My Hand, Go and Tell Him (Soup Song), Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots cover), Only Wanna Be With You
